The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social
Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has declared the intention of the Ministry to work
assiduously with both home-based Health Professionals and their Diaspora
counterparts for smooth, effective and efficient healthcare service delivery in
the country.
He made the declaration while inaugurating Members of
Technical Working Committee for the Nigerian Health Professionals in Diaspora
Plus Engagement Programme on the 20th August,2024 in his Office.
The Honourable Minister described the Nigerian Health
Professionals in Diaspora Plus Engagement Programme as a visionary project
designed to harness the invaluable expertise, knowledge and skills of the
Nation's compatriots in the global healthcare workforce.
Dr. Alausa who pointed out that for many years, Nigerian
Health Professionals in the Diaspora have been at the forefront of contributing
to the growth and development of the Nation's health sector, added that their
commitments have been demonstrated through various self-sponsored medical
missions, health education, training, public health interventions and advocacy.
The Minister, further stated that in acknowledging these
efforts carried out with the singular objective of serving the needs of
Nigerians, government move to formalize and scale them through this programme.
"This programme is structured as a long term,
sustainable initiative aimed at the repatriation and transfer of knowledge and
skills from Nigerian Healthcare professional in the Diaspora. It is a model to
not only improve our healthcare system but also to provide a platform for
multiple learning and collaboration between Diaspora Professionals and their
home-based counterparts " he reaffirmed.
The Honourable Minister, explained that the establishment of
the Technical Working Committee is a crucial step in ensuring that the Nigerian
Health Professionals in Diaspora Plus Engagement Programme achieve its full
potential, tasking the committee which comprises experts from various sector,
to guide the implementation of the programme and ensure that it effectively
aligns with the needs of the Nigeria Healthcare Institutions and the broader
healthcare framework.
Dr. Tunji Alausa identified sustainability as one of the critical challenges which must be addressed, saying that since this initiative is integrated into the healthcare system, it must become a permanent fixture capable of adopting and evolving in response to the ever-changing landscape of global health and this according to him requires innovative thinking, strategic planning and most importantly collaboration at all levels.
Group photograph of Members of Technical Working Committee for the Nigerian Health Professionals in the Diaspora
Plus Engagement Programme with Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Dr. Tunji Alausa (Center)
While mentioning that there is Advisory Council responsible
for charting the strategic direction and providing political leadership for the
great initiative, he emphasized that the committee's role would be to help to
operationalize these strategies to bring it to fruition.
"The Federal Ministry
of Health and Social Welfare remains committed to providing the necessary
support to ensure the success of the this programme. We will engage with
relevant agencies at both Federal and State levels, to ensure a seamless
integration of the programme into our national health strategy" Dr. Tunji Alausa promised.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Technical Working
Committee, Professor, Sydney Ibeanusi, promised to work round the clock to
deliver the mandate of healthcare delivery in line with the Federal
Government's programme under the watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He also reaffirmed the committee's commitments to revamp and
resuscitate healthcare services, pledging that the committee members will use
their expertise to support Federal Government in this enormous task. " To
whom much is given, much is expected" he stated.
Professor Sydney, thanked the Honourable Minister, Dr. Tunji
Alausa for finding him and the respected members of the Technical Working
Committee worthy to discharge this national assignment.
Earlier, in a welcome address, Dr. Bayo Adedewe, Special
Assistant to the Hon. Minister of State on Diaspora Affairs, welcomed members
of the committee and charged them to fully prepare for this assignment .
The committee has seventeen members as following: Professor
Sydney Ibeanusi -Member/Chairman, Dr. Bayo Adedewe,SA/HMSHSW on Diaspora
Affairs, Director, Teaching Hospital Division, Department of Hospital Services,
Chairman of Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of FTHIs
and Representative of Permanent Secretary's office.
Others are: Representatives of Medical and Dental Council of
Nigeria, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria,
Nigerians in Diaspora commission, National Universities Commission, Committee
of Heads of College of Medicine (under committee of Vice Chancellors of
Nigerian Universities), National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria,
Nigeria Governor's Forum, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, Diaspora
Professional Associations (President MANSAG, ANPA,NANNNA and NAPPSA), Private
Sector, Nigeria -Dr. Ibrahim Wada and PPP/Diaspora Unit, FMOHSW will serve as
Secretary/Secretariat of the Technical Working Committee.
Nine Terms of Reference have been outlined as the tasks on
the committee, namely: To support the coordination of the execution of the
implementation plan for the NHPDPEP, recommend strategies for coordinating
activities of NHPDPEP, support prioritisation of initiatives that support
effective knowledge and skills transfer to students and health professionals,
recommend courses, tutorials and seminars, including virtual ones that can
deliver cutting-edge perspectives in health sciences to home-based health professionals
and students in training institutions and to identify workshops for hands-on
demonstration, practice, simulation, experience sharing and actual service
delivery at health institutions under the programme.
Other Terms of Reference are: To identify beneficiary health
institutions for selection for the implementation of the NHPDPEP, support the
supervision of workshops/seminars and service delivery at health institutions
under the programme, assist in the integration of interested
non-Nigerians/Foreign health professionals into the programme and to recommend
supportive efforts of Nigerian Diaspora Professionals and interested foreign
health professionals who may wish to implement other initiatives aimed at developing
the Nigerian Health Sector.
Ado Bako
AD (Information and Public Relations)
21/8/2024.
